Department of Numbers

Benton County Oregon Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Benton County OR was $1,158 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Benton County was $1,173 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Benton County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Benton County rental vacancy rates, Benton County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Benton County.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Benton County Oregon (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Oregon Median Gross Rent $1,185 +3.04% +11.48%
Benton County OR Median Gross Rent $1,158 +6.14% +6.34%

Benton County OR Real Gross Rent Trends

At $1,158, real median gross rent in Benton County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,173, real average gross rent in Benton County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent: Benton County OR Median, Benton County OR Average, Oregon Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Benton County

Date US
Median
Oregon
Median
Benton County OR
Median
Benton County OR
Average
2019 $1,097 $1,185 $1,158 $1,173
2018 $1,077 $1,150 $1,091 $1,128
2017 $1,043 $1,113 $1,084 $1,143
2016 $1,027 $1,063 $1,089 $1,114
2015 $1,017 $1,000 $939 $1,010
2014 $986 $976 $943 $1,037
2013 $953 $934 $884 $961
2012 $940 $917 $867 $900
2011 $941 $907 $832 $844
2010 $955 $912 $816 $854
2009 $960 $933 $864 $963

more history ...

Benton County Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2016 the rental vacancy rate for Benton County Oregon was 8.59% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Benton County Oregon

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Oregon 4.00% -0.35% +0.83%
Benton County OR

Trends in Benton County OR Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Benton County peaked in 2010 at 10.22%. Since then it has fallen by 1.63% to 8.59%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2014 post peak low of 6.05%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 2.54%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Benton County OR, Oregon, US

Rental vacancy rate in Oregon

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Benton County

Date US Oregon Benton County OR
2019 5.97% 4.00%
2018 6.15% 4.35%
2017 6.18% 3.80%
2016 5.89% 3.17% 8.59%
2015 5.85% 3.64%
2014 6.32% 3.57% 6.05%
2013 6.49% 4.45%
2012 6.77% 4.75%
2011 7.40% 5.06%
2010 8.17% 5.60% 10.22%
2009 8.43% 6.30%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Benton County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Benton County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.62% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Benton County Oregon Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Oregon 21.21% -0.17% +0.03%
Benton County OR 19.62% -0.55% -2.89%

Trends in Benton County OR Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Benton County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2016 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.50%. Since then it has fallen by 2.89% to 19.62%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Benton County OR, Oregon, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Benton County Oregon

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Benton County Oregon

Date US Oregon Benton County OR
2019 20.03% 21.21% 19.62%
2018 20.50% 21.38% 20.17%
2017 20.13% 21.50% 20.93%
2016 20.43% 21.17% 22.50%
2015 20.63% 20.90% 20.09%
2014 20.89% 21.71% 20.42%
2013 20.78% 21.18% 21.06%
2012 20.65% 21.04% 19.13%
2011 20.70% 21.53% 21.73%
2010 20.50% 21.03% 19.08%
2009 20.12% 20.28% 20.39%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Benton County Oregon

You can calculate the renter fraction in Benton County in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Benton County as a fraction of total Benton County households. In 2019 42.68% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Benton County Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Oregon 37.12% -0.39% -1.19%
Benton County OR 42.68% +1.52% +1.21%

Trends in the Benton County OR Renter Fraction

The Benton County household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 45.41% and is now 2.73% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Benton County OR, Oregon, US

Fraction of renters in Benton County

History of Benton County Renter Fraction

Date US Oregon Benton County OR
2019 35.89% 37.12% 42.68%
2018 36.05% 37.51% 41.16%
2017 36.13% 37.20% 44.64%
2016 36.88% 38.31% 41.47%
2015 36.97% 38.91% 41.81%
2014 36.90% 39.28% 45.41%
2013 36.50% 39.17% 42.73%
2012 36.09% 38.44% 42.43%
2011 35.42% 39.22% 43.83%
2010 34.65% 37.45% 40.92%
2009 34.13% 36.95% 44.22%

more history ...

1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability.

2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series.

3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied.